Automatic mechanical catcher for rolling mills



Dec. '1, 1936.

A. G. Dl-:LANY l 2,062,297 AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CATCHER FOR ROLLING MILLS A v Filed oct. 1, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 1 y 'A 23 AVI/5587, 24

- A. @.ellaf l y III INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1936. A.V G. DELANY 2,062,297 AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CATCHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed Oct. l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY5' Dec. 1,1936. 'A G. DELANYl 2,062,297

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CATGHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed OCT.. l, 1931 4- Sheets-Sheet 3 l. V i M 45 973,7 lf/g ATTO RN EYS D ec. 1, 1936. l A, G, DELANY- 2,062,297

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CATCHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed Oct. l, 1951 4 Sheets-*Sheet 4 A. 6'. e/ang NVE BY Z ATToRNEYj lPatented Dec. 1936 AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CATCHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Albanus Groome Delany, Gadsden, Ala., assigner, by mesne assignments, to The American ARolling Mill Company, Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 1, 1931, Serial No. 566,230

Claims.

My invention relates to mills for rolling plates and sheets or the like and is concerned with mechanism for catching, automatically returning, and nally discharging the nished rolled product.

My invention is applicable to three-high mills to return the sheets, which term I shall hereinafter use as representative of any rolled product whether single or in packs, through the upper pass to the roller. In' the case'of two-high mills it will passA the sheets back over the top roll to the roller. In both cases it will automatically discharge the sheets, after completion of the rolling operation, to the piler or other treatment apparatus. Thus the mechanism will replace the operator known as the catcher, and will pery mounted superimposed endless carriers, such as chains, which are synchronously and reversibly driven at 'the same speed with their coacting ights adapted to grip between them and firmly hold the sheets in proper position after exit from the rolls for re-entry into the upper roll pass or return -to the roller upon reversal of the chains and the up tilting of the table.

Other distinctive features of myinvention are: the provision of guides for the coacting chain or belt ights which act to press said flights together so that they will eiectively grip and hold the sheets against displacement between them; the mounting of the upper chains in a frame hinged to the tiltable table so that it may be opened up for ready inspection and repair of both chains; the provision of strippers for the sheets as they emerge from the initial pass, the` upper stripper being adapted to be retracted automatically sufiiciently to clear the upper roll of the lowerpass when the table tilts upwardly, and to be forcedl into engagement with said upper 'roll of the initial pass when the table tilts downwardly; the

provision of a stop against which the sheets are fed as they approach the mill and by means of which they can be quickly matched so as to bring them into the proper position to enter the mill; the construction of the catcher mechanism in two 0 parts comprising'a relatively shortf'balanced tilt-` matically and quickly, responsive to the movement of the sheets.

My invention further comprises the novel combination and arrangement of parts which in their preferred embodiment are presented in the ac- 5 companying drawings and lare hereinafter described in detail .by reference thereto.

Fig. 1 shows the rollsl of a three-high mill in cross'section but the sheet handling mechanism 10 in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. l showing the catcher table tilted up and the upper stripper retracted; l' l Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the tiltable catcher 15 table;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; j

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4 and enlarged to show the coacting 20 chain flights and their guides;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is a detail view of the trip actuated retractable upper stripper; and' A 25 Fig; 8 is a wiring diagram illustrating how the sheet operated trip switches control, the automatic operation of the mechanism.

I Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

I have shown my invention associated with what is termed a three-high mill comprising a frame I0, a lower roll II,-an intermediate roll I2 and an upper roll I3. A'Ihis mill is mounted in a normal manner upon foundations or supports 35 I4 and there is associated with it on its receiving side a pair of endless chains or -belts I5 which receive the sheets as they are delivered down the chute I6 and present them to al transverse stop` plate Il (Fig. 6) which is notched atI8 so --it can project above the top ights of the chains I5 when it will act to stop the sheets and permit the roller to square the sheets properly relative to the mill. A counterweightedtreadle I9 n ormally holds the stop plate in raised position. 45 It is in convenient position for the roller to'depress the treadle with his foot and release theV sheets to be fed into the lower pass of the mill. 'llhe stop plate works freely in the guides 20.

.Ly-motor 2| by means of a chain 2,2 drives the 50 shaft 23 which carries fast thereon the driving sprockets for the two chains I5. These chains pass about idler sprockets 24 and return under idlers on the shaft 25. A frame 26 carries suitable bearings for the sprocketv and idler shafts that and has the plate guides 20 secured thereto. The frame 26 is overhung toward the lower roll so that the chains approach the lowerpass sufliciently to guide the sheets thereinto.

The catcher mechanism comprises a tilting table having the side plates: 21 mounted near their lower center to rock on a bottom cross shaft 28 which is journaled in bearings 29 anchored to the foundations 30`on the delivery side of the mill. These plates are suitably cross connected by transverse frame members 3| and 32.

At one end of theframe is journaled'a cross shaft 33 having a pair of grooved idler rollers 34 thereon. At the other end of the frame is :lournaled a jack shaft 35 bearing the sprockets 36 for driving the lower pair of catcher chains 31 which return to the idlers 34 under tension idlers 38.

On the cross supports 3| I mount upturned channels 39. Each channel has a wearstrip 40 .(Fig. 5) bolted centrally thereto and adapted to form a track support for the upper flight of the chains 31. The ends of the channels are downturned as seen in Fig. 4, and a bottom stripper plate 4| extends from the sheet, receiving end of the tiltable frame to the channels 39, being cut away at its rear end for the chains and their front idlers 34 and at its forward end being downwardly,

deflected to engage the lower. roll V The plates 21 carry at their outer ends raised bearing extensions 42 in which I journal the shaft 43 having fast thereon at one end the gear 44,

meshing the gear 38.

An upper frame 45 is mounted to swing on this shaft 43 and is secured in spaced relationship to the plates 21. by the side clips 46 that are bolted to both frames. y The upper pair of sheet handling chains 41 are mounted on this upper frame, having driving sprockets 48 on shaft 43, forward idlers 49 on shaft 50 and tension idlers 5| on shaft 52. All shafts are suitably journaled in the upper frame which has the cross brace members 53.

Inverted channels 54 having upturned ends are adjustably mounted by means of pins 55 working vertically through slots in the members 53 and carrying coiled springs 56 which force the channels downwardly and press their wear strips ,i

51'against the upper chains 41 causing the latter to grip sheets 58 (Fig. 5) between them and the chains 31. y

Plates 59 are mounted on the members 3| bef tween and on each side of the channels 39. Similarplates 60 are connected by brackets 6| to the members 53 so that the tiltable table encloses the sheets except at their edges and thus conserves their heat. V

I provide an upper retractable stripper.` plate 6|a which is suspended by swinging links 62 hung from forward end bearings 63 of the sides of frame 45. Near its rear edge the stripper 6|a is supported by crank arms 64 carried by the rocker shaft 65 and each slotted to loosely receive a bolt 66 secured to a pair of spaced angles 61. A coiled spring 68 surrounds each boltv66 be-l tween the crank and forward angle. The shaft 65 is journaled in bearings 69 on the frame 45 and carries at .each end a trip arm 10 adapted to engage the pins 1| fast in the roll frame I0. This causes the cranks to thrust the stripper plate yieldably because of springs 68 towards th'e roll I2.

As the catcher tilts upwardly, the trip arms.

10 become disengaged fromthe pins 1| and the stripper plate 6|a is pulled away from the roll by springs 12 suiiiciently to clear it, see Fig. 2. This 'plate 6|a is notched to clear the chains 41 and the idlers 49 in all operating positions.

An extension 13 on the outer end of each plate 21 loosely engages in the slot 14 of a bracket 15 attached to the free end of a frame 16 hinged at its other end to the stand .11. A pair of delivery `chains 18 are mounted on this frame aligning connected by a link 88 to the piston rod 89 of av compressed air cylinder 90 having pipe connections to a four-way control valve 93.

The sprockets 80 are driven by any suitable means preferably by a belt 9| which drives a pulley fast on the shaft for the sprockets 80.

The valve 93 is operated by an -arm 94 connected by a link 95 to the spring-pressed plunger rod 96 operated bythe core 91 of the solenoid 98. The spring 99 acts to retract the core from the solenoid and to set the valve to tilt the table to its lowered or sheet receiving position, shown in Fig. 1. When the solenoid is energized, tl'ie valve is rocked to cause the air motorto tilt the table upwardly into its sheet discharging position, shown in Fig. 2.'

A trigger |00 is ,pivotally mounted so that its upper end projects up through the lower stripper plate 4| near its free edge so that entering sheets will rock it clockwise from its neutral position and hold it thus until the sheets have moved fully into the table when it is released and `is free to move, responsive to spring |0| (Fig. 8) back to` neutral position. Upon reversal of the catcher chain drive the sheets will be reversed and as they are returned to the mill, the trigger |00 is again engaged and this time is shifted from neutral position .counter-clockwise and so held until the sheets have been fully discharged by I the catcher.

A trigger |02 is mounted on .the delivery frame 16 in position to be tripped by the sheets, as they are moved by the chains 18, and when so tripped .will act to reset the automatic mechanism to carry out the cycle of operations in the manner which will now be described by reference to Fig. 8, in which the various switches and triggers are diagrammatcally illustrated, it being understood that various types of switches and circuits might be selected to carry out the contemplated operations.

A multiple contact switch box |03 is mounted n member 3| of table 21 and has its contacts operable by a rod |04 from the trigger |00.

In the operation of my invention, the passage of the rolled stock through the tiltable catcherthe mill and they will again engage the trigger |00 which this timeis thrown to the left and held in such position untilthe sheets pass from the catcher, vwhereuponthe trigger again resumes its normal upright position. This movement of the trigger acts to again reverse the air motor to lower the table and to reverse themotor drive for the chains, causing them to move in the direction and at the proper speed to receive the sheets after their second treatment in the lower pass of thesmill. When the finished sheets enter the catcher the trigger |00 is tripped for the third time in this cycle, being noved to the right and held until the sheets pass over it when it will return toits normal position. This return movement of the trigger will be without effect on the motors for tilting the catcher and driving the conveyor chains thereon, and hence the latter will continue to be driven in a direction to discharge the-finished sheets ontothe re ceiving table where they engage and trip the trigger |02 and will hold the same down until the sheets pass oif from the `delivery frame, whereuponthis trigger will resume itsnorm'al position and by'this actionv will reset the automatic mechanism controlled `by trigger |00 so that the cycle of operations described will be repeatedV with the next batch of sheets entering the catcher. The motors 2I'and 8| are controlled bythe automatic mechanism so that they drive their respective chains I5, 31 and 41 in like direction and at the same speed which is approximately that of the surface speed of the rolls.

4By the above means the chains I5 will move to carry the sheets away from the mill while they are being returned through the upper mill pass or over a two-high mill and will then bef automatically reversed under control of trigger |00 to feed the sheets back to the mill for the final pass.

A suitable mechanism for carrying out under automatic control the cycles of operations above described is illustrated in Fig. `8, which shows indiagrammatic form the switch and circuit mechanism which operate responsive Vto the triggers |00 and |02 as follows.

When main line switch |05 is closed and current is directed through leads" |06 and |01 and switch RI to the solenoid I08,`this will actuate the reversing switch |09 causing the motor 8| to drive the sheet gripping flights of the chains 31 and 41 in a direction away from the rolls.

To start up the catcher, the trigger I 02 is thrown by hand and a switch |2a is closed to energize the relay C by current passing through lead II3, switch |I2, lead II4, relay C, lead II6, switch B2, and leads I|1 and |19. The relay C acts to close switches CI and C2.` The ag switch ||2 is spring-pressedfto return to its normal open position when its trigger |02 is released, after which the relay C will beheld energized bycurrent passing through-the'lead I3, switch C2, lead |I4, relay C, lead I I6, switch B2, and leads ||1 and IIB.

` After the rsheets emerge froml the bottom rolls and enter the catcher they engage and actuate the trigger 00, moving it clockwise and holding itA in position to closethe switch E3 .in box |03 and permit the current to pass through the leads I I8, |2|, relay A, leads- |2 `2, switch E3, leads |23, |24, switch B|,fswitch CI and lead I|3. After the relay A has thus been energized, the

rble 21.

switches AI, A2, A3 and A4 are closed. When the sheets have passed beyond andA released the trigger |00, 'it will automatically assume its upright normal position and open the switch E3, the current then passing throughthe leadsl H8, |2|, and relay A,j`switch AI to lead |24, etc.

This holds switches Al, A2, A3 and A4' iny their `closed position.

When the trigger |00 resumes its upright, position a circuit is completed through the'lead |I8,

retarded relay-R, lead |21, switch A4, lead |28,` kswitch EI and leads |26, switch C an d| |3,

which causes the 'relay R to open thefswitch v:al breaking the circuitjtothe vflorencia los; and

closing the switchesv R2 and R3. The switch R2, when closedkcompletes a circuit tothe solenoid |29 through the leadsj I 3| and |32. The solenoid |29 actuates the switch |09 causing the current to flow in a reverse direction through the field coils |33 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motors 9| and 2|.. The` switch R3,v when closed, completes a circuit to the solenoid 98 through the leads |36 and |31 and actuates the valve 93 to cause the motors 90 to tilt the ta- As the sheets leave the catcher table for the return pass through the upper rolls, they actuate the trigger |00, counterclockwise, to close the switches E2 andi E4. The switch E2A closes a circuit leading to the relay A through the lead I|3, switch CI, lead |26, switch E2, lea'd |23, switch AI, relay A, and leadsy |2| and IIB. The switch E4 closes a circuit to the relay B `through the lead |I3, switch Cl, lead |26, switch E4lead |38, relay B, lead |39, switch A2, and leads '|4| and I|8. The relay' B then opens the switches BI and B2 and closes the switch B3. When the switch B2 opens, vit does not aifect the relayC as a holding circuit has been completedthrough lead ||3, switch C2, lead ||4,' relay C, leadv I6, switch A3, and leads |4| and H8. The 'switch B3 closes a holding circuit to the relay vB through y thelead ||3, switch CI, lead |26', switch B3,` relay B, lead |39, switch A2, and leads I4| and |I8.

After the sheets have passed over'the` trigger |00 on their travel through the upper rolls,.it will assume its normal position and open the switches E2 and E4. When the switch E2 opens, it breaks the circuit to the relay A whichwill then open the switches AI, A2, A3 andv A4. The switch A2 will break: the circuit leading to the relay B which, in turn, will open switch B3 and close switches BI and B2. The switch A3 in.

opening breaks the circuit to the relay C. The switch A4 breaks the circuit to the retardedrelay R which, aftery a predetermined time, will open the switches R2 and R3 and close the switch RI. circuit to the solenoid 98 and permits the spring 99 to actuate the valve 93 to cause the catcher trigger |02 on the table 16 will however be thrown bythe passing sheetsto closethe circuitto the relay C, after .which vthe operation willy bey the same as described*y While I prefer to use a tilting table., by such When the switch R3 opens, it breaks the 6o table to return. to its lowered position. When a term I intend to include any table movable into co-operative relation with passes at different levels in the mill.

While the above mechanism is considered suitable for controlling the operation of the catcher table it can obviouslybe modified without departure from my invention and it can readily be adapted to give any desired cycle for the of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed bythe prior art or as are specically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic catching table for rolling mills comprising a tiltable frame, superposed sets of endless chains mounted on said table, each set comprising ights which are closely spaced and adapted to receive the rolled sheets between them, spring pressed guides to hold the chains in yieldable engagement with the sheets, and a reversible drive for the chains.

2. An automatic catching table for rolling mills comprising a tiltable frame, lower tracks,

endless chains having their upper flights ,traveling in said tracks, upper tracks, an upper set of chains having their lower ights traveling in said upper tracks, means to yieldably press the superposed pairs of tracks together to cause the chains to grip and convey the rolled stock, and automatic sheet controlled reversible drive means lfor said chains.

3. A catcher for rolling mills, comprising a tiltable catcher table with sets of superposed conveyers having a common. reversible driveand disposed to grip the rolled stock between them, a delivery table pivotally mounted and connected at its free end to the discharge end of the catcher table, anon-reversible conveyer mounted on said delivery table, and .trip controlled means automatically responsive to the passage of rolled stock to produce a cycle in which the stock is first received, then returned to the roller, again received and finally discharged ontoq the delivery table, where it resets the trip controlled means to repeat the cycle.

4. A catcher for rolling mills comprising a tiltable catcher table having reversible stock moving means, a roll engaging stripper plate movably mounted on the table, and means to retract said plate automatically to clear the mill roll which it engaged as-the table is tilted past said roll.

5. In combination with a stand of rolls, a

' catcher table mounted to shift from lower sheetreceiving position to upper sheet-returning position, a stripper plate carried by the table, means to advance said stripper with respect to said table into cooperative relation with a roll when the table is lowered, and means to retract the stripper to clear said roll as the table is 6. In combination with a stand of rolls, a catcher table mounted to shift from sheet-receiving position to sheet-returning position, a

' stripper stock guide carried by the table, means to advance said stripper into cooperative relation to a roll when the table is in receiving position, and means to retract the stripper to clear said roll as the table is tilted, thestripper advancing means comprising yieldable elements.

'7. In combination with a stand of rolls, a catcher-table mounted to shift from sheet-receiving position to sheet-returning position, a stripper stock guide carried by the table, means to advance said stripper into cooperative relation to a roll when the table moves to sheet-receiving position, and means to retract the stripper to clear said roll as the table is tilted, the stripper advancing means comprising positively driven elements yieldably connected to the stripper.

8. In combination with a rolling mill, a feeder table comprising releasable stop means disposed to engage superimposed sheet bars as they approach said mill and furnish a guide with respect to which the said stock can be brought into correct position to enter the mill, and mechanical means on the catcher side of the mill to grasp and hold the partly rolled stock elements in said correct position until returned for further rolling in said mill.

9. Amechanical catcher for rolling mills, comprising a tiltable frame, superposed pairslof endless chains mounted on said table, channel guides for the adjacent ilights of each pair of chains, springs and pins for yieldably mounting the upper guides in said frame, plates to substantially enclose the sheets while engaged by said chains, a reversible motor drive for simultaneously moving said chains at equal speeds, and sheet controlled means to tilt the .frame and move the chains through the required cycle of movements to roll the sheets and discharge them.

10. A catcher for rolling mills, comprising a tiltable catcher table having means to receive stock from and return it to the mill rolls, a trip actuated stripper plate onthe table adapted to coact with a mill roll to strip the stock therefrom, and spring means to retract said plate responsive to a tilting movement of the table.

11. In a catcher for a three-high mill, comprising large upper and lower rolls and a smaller middle roll, a tiltable table for receiving the stock from one pass and returning it to another pass in the mill, a xed stripper on the table adapted to coact with a large roll, and a retractable stripper adapted in automatic response to table movements to-coactwiththe small roll and to clear the latter as the table tilts.

l2. An automatic catching table for rolling mills comprising a tiltable frame, endless conveyors mounted on said frame to provide juxtaposed ights adapted to receive the rolled stock between them and to travel continuously with said stock, means to azust one of said ights bodily in continuous parallelism with said other flight whereby said flights may accommodate single sheets or packs of various thicknesses, and a reversible drive means for moving said conveyor flights in exact unison.

13. An automaticcatching table for rolling mills comprising a tiltable frame, endless conveyors mounted on said frame to provide juxtaposed flights adapted to receive the rolled stock between them andlto travel continuously with said stock, means to adjust one of said ights bodily in continuous parallelism with said other flight whereby said ights may accommodate single sheets or packs of various thicknesses, yieldable presser means upon said adjustable ight to cause said ight to bear against stock between it and the other ight, and a reversible drive means for moving said conveyor flights in exact unison.

14. An automatic catching table for rolling mills comprising a tiltable table comprising upper and lower frames, means for moving one of said frames in continuous parallelism with said other frame, endless sheet conveyors mounted in each frame and adapted to frictio'nally engage the rolled stock between them, guide means supporting said endless conveyors against said stock throughout a substantial length of said conveyors, and means upon said movable frame to urge said guide means toward the rolled stock.

15. A catcher for rolling mills comprising a tiltable catcher table having reversible stock moving means, a roll engaging stripper plate movably mounted on the table, said movable mounting permitting retraction of said plate to clear the mill roll which it engaged as the table is ALBANUS GROOME DELANY. 

